New safety standards for infant bathtubs
A new mandatory safety standard to prevent infants and toddlers from drowning while in infant bathtubs recently took effect.
All infant bathtubs made on or after Oct. 2, 2017, must have improved warning labels that give information on how to avoid drowning and fall hazards. The bathtubs also must meet requirements that address problems with tubs and locking mechanisms breaking.
The American Academy of Pediatrics supports the new requirements, calling them an important safety step.
Thirty-one infant deaths associated with infant bathtubs were reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) between 2004 and 2015, and an estimated 2,300 infant bathtub-related injuries were treated in U.S. emergency departments.
Even with the new standard in place, CPSC advises parents and caregivers to follow these safety tips when using infant bathtubs:
- Never leave young children alone, even for a moment, near any water.
- Always keep a young child in a bathtub within arm’s reach. If you must leave, take the child with you.
- Don't leave a baby or toddler in a bathtub under the care of another young child.
- Learn CPR.
IKEA dressers responsible for 8 deaths
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is among eight groups urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to increase efforts to reach every home with IKEA dressers that are responsible for eight deaths and at least 36 injuries after they tipped over.
In 2016, the CPSC and IKEA recalled 29 million IKEA Malm and other dressers. However, the AAP and others said there was a delay in issuing the recall and “lackluster efforts” by IKEA to fully communicate the hazard and recall to the public.
“Unfortunately, the communication efforts focused on anchoring a deadly dresser to the wall are not enough on their own. Anchoring devices are meant as a second layer of protection for stable dressers — not as a replacement for making stable dressers in the first place,” the groups said in a joint statement. “IKEA and the CPSC must take effective action to prevent more families from losing children as a result of unstable dressers.”
They urged the CPSC to advise families to return any unsafe dresser for a refund and provide incentives for consumers to remove such a dresser from their homes.
Find the 2016 recall notice at http://bit.ly/2z70PRn.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products unless otherwise instructed. Consumers can submit reports of harm to CPSC’s searchable online product safety database atwww.SaferProducts.gov. A searchable food and medical product recall database is available atwww.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm.
Wind-up musical toys
Units: 587,000
Hazard: The metal post and/or handle of the wind-up mechanism can detach, and young children can choke on them.
Description: Carter’s, Child of Mine, Guess How Much I Love You and Just One You brands of wind-up musical plush toys have a metal mechanism that can be turned to play music. They were sold in variety of animal characters and colors. For a list of recalled model numbers, which are printed on a sewn-in label behind the care label, visit https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/Kids-Preferred-Recalls-Wind-Up-Musical-Toys.
Sold at: Carter’s, Target, Walmart and other stores nationwide and online from January 2016 through August 2017 for $11 to $20.
Remedy: Contact Kids Preferred for a free replacement toy.
Contact: Call 888-968-9268, email [email protected] or visit http://bit.ly/2xb7mWG.
Motion seats
Units: 63,000
Hazard: The motor housing can overheat, posing a fire hazard.
Description: Fisher-Price Soothing Motions Seats with model numbers CMR35, CMR36, CMR37 and DYH22 and Smart Connect Soothing Motions Seats with model number CMR39 are recalled. The model number is on the underside of the motor housing. The seat bounces, sways, vibrates and plays 10 songs and nature sounds. It has an overhead mobile.
Sold at: BuybuyBaby, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and other websites from November 2015 through October 2017 for $160 to $175.
Remedy: Contact Fisher-Price for a refund.
Contact: Call 800-432-5437 or visit https://service.mattel.com/us/recall/default.asp?recall_id=52464.
Wiggle balls
Units: About 29,700
Hazard: The wiggle ball’s rubber knobs and plastic back can detach, and infants can choke on them.
Description: This recall involves Bruin Infant Wiggle Ball toys also called giggle balls. The blue ball has textured bumps for gripping and orange, green and yellow rubber knobs around the ball. The ball wiggles, vibrates and plays three musical tunes. It requires 3 AA batteries to operate. Model number 5F6342E and Toys “R” Us are printed on the product.
Sold exclusively at: Babies “R” Us and Toys “R” Us stores nationwide from June 2016 through January 2017 for about $13.
Remedy: Return the balls to Babies “R” Us or Toys “R” Us for a refund.
Contact: Call Toys “R” Us at 800-869-7787.
Jogging strollers
Units: 28,000
Hazard: The stroller leg bracket can break, and infants can fall out of the stroller.
Description: This recall involves J is for Jeep brand cross-country all-terrain jogging strollers manufactured by Delta. The strollers have two wheels in the back and one smaller wheel in the front. “J is for Jeep” is printed on the side of the sun canopy, and a star with a circle around it is printed on the front bottom of the seat and on the side of the stroller. To find recalled model and lot numbers, visit https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Delta-Recalls-Strollers.
Sold at: Target, Walmart and other stores nationwide and Shopko stores in Wisconsin from August 2015 through August 2016 for $130 to $160.
Remedy: Contact Delta for a free repair.
Contact: Call 800-377-3777 or email [email protected].
Leather pouf ottoman
Units: About 7,500
Hazard: Children can open the zippers on the pouf ottomans and suffocate or choke on the polystyrene beads.
Description: This recall includes black leather pouf ottomans filled with polystyrene beads. Room Essentials and model number 249-19-1286 are printed on a white tag sewn into the seam.
Sold exclusively at: Target stores nationwide and online from June through August 2017 for about $35.
Remedy: Return ottomans to any Target store for a refund.
Contact: Call Target at 800-440-0680.
Children’s nightgowns and pajama sets
Units: About 2,300
Hazard: The children’s nightgowns and pajama sets fail to meet flammability standards for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children.
Description: The sleepwear was sold in a variety of styles in sizes 7 through 14. Little Mass and style number T927S, T933, T935, T935S, T949, T952S or T953 are printed on a sewn-in side seam label.
Sold at: Nordstrom and children’s boutiques nationwide and online at www.littlemass.com from July 2016 through October 2017 for $27 to $42.
Remedy: Contact Little Mass for a refund.
Contact: Call 800-977-9086, email [email protected] or [email protected] or visit https://littlemass.com/pages/safety-recall-notice.
Children’s sleepwear
Units: About 3,100
Hazard: The children’s nightgowns and two-piece pajama sets fail to meet the federal flammability standards for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children.
Description: Children’s 100% cotton woven nightgowns and two-piece, long-sleeve pajama sets are recalled. The nightgown has a peter pan collar with a red and white gingham pattern trim, and six plastic buttons on the back. The two-piece pajama set has five plastic buttons and two pockets near the waist of the top. The pajama sets were sold in striped light blue, striped navy, striped red, striped pink and lavender in sizes 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 years.
Sold at: Children’s boutique stores nationwide and online at www.dondolo.com from November 2014 through October 2017 for $15 to $50.
Remedy: Contact Dondolo for a gift card for the purchase price for use toward any product at www.dondolo.com.
Contact: Call 800-659-5370, email [email protected] or visit http://bit.ly/2yoEZsS.
Children’s pajamas
Units: About 950
Hazard: The children’s pajamas fail to meet the federal flammability standard for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children.
Description: Two styles of children’s two-piece pajama sets are recalled. The first set has a gray long-sleeve shirt and pants and is made of 93% modal and 7% spandex. The shirt has pink trim at the neckline with a pink bow. “Happy Day V&L” is printed in pink and white on the center of the shirt, and a sewn-in side seam label states “VIV&LUL DL118106.” The second set has a yellow, white and blue plaid print, long-sleeve shirt and pants and is made of 100% cotton. The top has four buttons and a sewn-in side seam label stating “VIV&LUL V215770.” Both styles were sold in sizes 110 cm (4-5 years), 120 cm (6-7 years), 130 cm (8-9 years), 140 cm (10-11 years), 150 cm (12-13 years) and 160 cm (14-15 years).
Sold at: Amazon.com from January through October 2017 for $11 to $17.
Remedy: Contact VIV&LUL for a refund.
Contact: Email [email protected].
Baby gym
Units: About 500
Hazard: Babies can strangle on the side rope crossbars on the baby gyms.
Description: Babies lay under the PlanToys baby gyms to play with hanging mobiles. The wooden gyms are tan and have four legs with colored balls in the middle that are connected by two ropes on the sides. Two space-themed mobiles hang from the top bar. The manufacturing date code TH 080116 through TH 082916 is printed on the top corner joint connecting ball.
Sold at: Specialty toy and baby product stores nationwide and online at Diapers.com, Target.com and other websites from September 2016 through May 2017 for $50.
Remedy: Contact PlanToys for a free replacement baby gym.
Contact: Call 866-517-7526 or email [email protected].
